Small Space Style: Because You Don't Need to Live Large to Live Beautifully

by Whitney Leigh Morris

Interior design maven and Instagram star Whitney Leigh Morris makes living in a mere 362 square feet look elegant and effortless—even with a husband, baby, and two Beagles in the mix. In her debut book, Whitney shares her best ideas for making any tiny space efficient and stylish—whether it’s a rustic A-frame in the woods or a chic microapartment in the city.

Featuring 300 tips for making the most of your tiny home, Small Space Style is the must-have, incredibly inspirational guide for living large in the smallest of spaces. Join tiny home expert Whitney Leigh Morris as she demonstrates how to craft floorplans so spaces do double duty, personalize storage to look chic, go vertical when surface space is limited, DIY your own clever custom built-ins, streamline media devices, use furniture for more than one function, keep clutter to a minimum, and even entertain a crowd in a small area.

With chapters on all that we do in our homes (living, sleeping, eating, and bathing), Small Space Style features real-life examples from Whitney’s own delightful and sophisticated cottage in Venice Beach, California, as well as home tours of some of her favorite tiny houses, micro apartments, and otherwise small spaces.

Genres: Nonfiction, Interior Design, Design, Reference, Self Help, Adult

240 pages, Hardcover

Published November 13, 2018

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely images and watercolors. Not much new in the way of organizing or managing in a small space. Good commitment to sustainability and reuse. It's not hard to look lovely in southern California with loads of money.

[Ilias]

This is a Fine book. A little too focused in on its preferred aesthetic. However? I will say it was more useful than a lot of books not focused on small spaces, so that's something. I do definitely resent the tiny house label. I also don't love the [every paragraph's a Numbered Tip] model of non-fiction, bc so often there's a lot of repetition between them. It feels like the author is trying to get to a certain number of bullet points rather than presenting the information as succinctly as possible.

Also? Children like colors. Just like buy a little red paint + dip all yr kid's toys in it. I'm very turned off by the insistence on applying yr aesthetic standards 2 yr child's possessions. But.

I'm being rude bc I'm embarrassed abt enjoying these things. I had a nice time reading this book. All of the stuff about outdoor space, obviously, does not apply to me, but I was inspired by her use of pegs rather than shelves and also converting the stove-top to counter-space. I don't know if there is anything here I'd Never seen before, but it's a pretty book and a very quick read and I definitely am Digesting it, so.

[Denise Wilbanks | This Is My Everybody · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW: Small Space Style by Whitney Leigh Morris

T.I.M.E. Favorite… ✨😎✨

I absolutely love this book! It's going to stay on my bedside table for quite some time… Maybe forever!

It's loaded with ideas of living large in a small space. And that subject is really close to my heart… Because I lived in a less than 500 square foot apartment in New York for 20 years. So, I really have an appreciation for how every inch is valuable real estate!

And also let’s celebrate that wonderful strong female character that is the writer of this book actually! Because she is taking something that she believes in… Built her own blog and business based on that vision… And making a living doing something that she feels passionate about.

Bravo, Whitney Lee Morris…

Small Space Style: Because you don't have to live large to live beautifully by Whitney Leigh Morris
2018 Book Release


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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books & DIY Home Ideas | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com ... Including my video tutorials for DIY home ideas inspired by recommended books to support you in bringing your favorite books to life in your life and home.

You can see my full review for Small Space Style by Whitney Leigh Morris at https://www.thisismyeverybody.com/boo...

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I'd probably want to reread and maybe own. Some cool ideas and DIY project directions. Interesting and some fairly out of the box suggestions for living in small spaces and organizing, along with other info I already knew. Disregarding some that's just impractical or geared toward people who have 2 or less kids. :p

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far, this is the best book I have seen on the topic of organizing small spaces. The book has 238 tips for living in a small space. Some are over the top for normal people (“host a wedding in your 400 sq for home”), but many are very practical and/or will spark other ideas. Very well done.

[Amy]

Eh..I liked what few photos were there but too much writing. Plus most of the advice was in the 8 million other small space living books I've read.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small Space Style truly makes alot with little space. There are several projects with instructions to cobble together along with sweet photos. It is very pretty but tiny. I guess I read presto chango! your guest bed is now a couch,just stack 3 bases and move some tables and baskets and behold! your space is new again one time too many this book does encourage off beat problem solving in a arty style. I most appreciate the use of whatever space is outside the door to relax and entertain. It is pretty to page through and offers up some good ideas.

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I come from a long line of short women who bring home piles of library books about decorating small spaces. This was the best of the bunch. I will never do any of it, but it had tips for small changes along with the big renovations, and inspiring illustrations.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the author makes several over-the-top, laughable suggestions — like matching your dog's leash to your home decor or only using "artfully packaged" toiletries — I found that, overall, this book had smart ideas for maximizing a small space. I definitely felt inspired, and hope to use it as a reference when decorating my house. The photos and layout were gorgeous, too!

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very hipster and minimalist. The pictures are nice.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Edit: I did already use the tip of 'chaining' hangers. Most of the space under my clothes is already organized, but I did use a pretty ribbon, sectioned off to resemble a chain with this certain knot that I know, to chain my turtlenecks.

Much more aspirational than practical for those of us who don't have the Pacific Ocean out our door. And don't need elbow room, of course. And have money. And a tidy spouse. And no need for color. And a green thumb.

I do know most of the tips. Most I can't implement because I have a landlord.

I appreciate some of the how-tos... but apparently they have a pretty big garden shed because it has power tools and out-of-season clothing? I think the shed needs to count in the square-foot. And the laundry room is shared with the neighbor, and there's a patio... so much space is not counted!

I had to laugh several times at the disconnect between photos and text. Loads of decorative pillows on a bed. A hanging shelf with books and a glass vase, despite text saying 'no heavy or breakable.'

There is one page, however, that had two ideas for me. In the section on closets, I like the idea of using a short chain to 'stack' hangers (but use the top one on the rod, don't bother with an S hook). And use a six-pack wine bag (I picked up one at a dollar store years ago because it just looked handy but I never used it)... she says for shoes, but I'm inspired to for other sorting when I pack for the road.

[Sheri Longshore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful book with lots of gorgeous photos. Author lives in a TINY cottage with her family and shares style & organization tips on living in a closet. ☺️

Enjoyed the photos and she seems like a lovely person but I had a hard time engaging with the book, perhaps because her philosophy is so extreme. Also, it seems like a lot of these type lifestyle books I read are located in Southern California. Which is gorgeous. But the rest of us don’t have their obscenely beautiful weather that facilitates living half our lives on the patio. Sadly.

But a lovely visual representation of a tiny lifestyle, nonetheless.

[brightredglow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I got out of curiosity because I have a small space and this woman has a space even smaller than mine and her place looks great. So I got the book.

I love this book. What I love is that it meets me where I am. The ideas are workable for small spaces and the spaces are actually small. Not small with an asterisk. The ideas are real and within reason.

This is that kind of book that I read and re-read when I'm ready to tackle a space.

Anyway, I love this book. It is one of my faves of the year and probably next year too.

[Brenda Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for all home owners! The tips for small space homes are needed and excellent!!! But… they can be used in all homes for excellent organization which incorporates beauty too. This is a book I will keep always and one I plan to have on an open book display where the ideas continue to be fresh, as I myself move to a smaller home! A special bonus is the texture of the cover of the book. I am not sure what the texture is but it is not your normal shiny! I hope this author comes out with a new book as her and her family remodel a French cottage!

[Tini Wan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this by chance at the library and loved it so much that I’ve decided to purchase it! I was pleasantly surprised by this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to change up their living space. This book is basically a long list of versatile suggestions and you can easily skim through the book with a lot of takeaway. You don’t need to have a tiny home to apply many of the tips and you can skip whichever ones don’t apply to your lifestyle.

[NebulousGloom (FK) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a number of good ideas for a small apartment or home. In many ways, it wasn't that different from others books in this category. However, there were quick DIY instructions for a number of the good ideas that took the book from being just okay to instead being something I will refer back to. Amusingly, one thing I noted frequently was how inappropriate the bedroom decorating ideas were for people with mold allergies (at least, according to what my allergist told me).

[Minette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Reading about the beautiful life the author has created for herself and family in a 400 square foot cottage makes me feel like I’m living in luxury with my 1000 square foot cottage! Lovely pictures, awesome design hacks, definitely an uplifting read on living well and beautifully in small homes.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm hoping (fingers crossed) to move into a new place soon. With the current housing market (2021) and my budget, I know my next space is going to be small.

This book features ideas on small space style. I found some of the suggestions helpful and others I personally wouldn't put in my space but I could see someone else doing the suggestions.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really appreciate when folks advocate for and glamorize truly small-space living, and Morris definitely does that. Her ~350-square-foot home is adorable and cozy, and she offers many truly useful tips for utilizing space efficiently. While her aesthetic taste doesn't perfectly align with my own, I did still glean a few ideas here, and I just want to cheerlead anyone championing small homes!

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So tired of my apartment!!! This had some good ideas although there is a fair amount of DIY (projects like installing a drop-leaf kitchen table are cool but I absolutely do not have the skills to DIM).

[Jasanna Czellar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this one was good. So many tips, and packed with beautiful photography as well as a few how-to's. Not everything would work in the Midwest, like the outdoor year-round shower, but most can apply anywhere.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good ideas and inspiration in here. Somehow I didn’t connect with it enough for four stars, but I enjoyed leafing through it and I appreciate that it’s genuine about the challenges of living in a small space.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morris, spouse, young son, and two dogs live in a bit less than 400 square feet in Venice Beach, California. This book is crammed with pictures, DIY instructions, and 238 ideas from her house and several other small homes. None it overly minimalist.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the pictures and drawings. Nothing really new in ideas, but so fun to dream! Tiny spaces seem neat, but I wonder about the reality of living in them long-term. I'd love more how-to on that topic!

[Erica Hinders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this! I live in a 600 sq ft apartment and seeing some of the style options gave me ideas I want to try when I’m able to.

[K. L. Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED the tips and gorgeous inspiration in this beautiful book!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your dream is to live in Downton Abbey, then this is not the book for you. But if you live in Manhattan read it ASAP!

[Becky Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Marcy Graybill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough pictures.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photos and tons of great ideas for living in a smaller space. Also great organizational tips for everyone. Remember this book when we retire and down size.